The mandorla is an almond shape that is created as two circles begin to overlap. A circle is a bounded representation of wholeness or a complete “world” unto itself. A bounded circle can be depicted as a mandala, not to be confused with a mandorla.
A mandala is a graphic circular symbol of the universe often filled with intricate patterns. Much of the artwork representing these concepts has an intrinsic beauty and a healing quality to it. Carl Jung worked with mandalas, drawing them daily when he was facing some challenging concepts in his work.
When two whole entities meet, each bringing a complete self, differences are inevitable. The mandorla, that almond shaped meeting place of overlap is a symbol of hope where the two find meaning and common ground. “During medieval times, the almond was interpreted as a symbol of the embryo enclosed in the uterus,” the birth of something new brought into being as two worlds unite.
On the website https://carljungdepthpsychologysite.blog Brian Jensen writes about this in his article, “Mandorla: Ancient Symbol of Wholeness” and also explains that “the mandorla symbolizes power as well as spirituality” and is often depicted as an aureole in works of art, a circle of light or brightness surrounding an image.
Jensen also refers to the healing function of the mandorla. In Jensen’s article he references Robert Johnson’s book Owning Your Own Shadow, who points out that in dealing with “painful contradictions…The mandorla begins the healing of the split.” As the two contradictory entities begin to overlap. “The overlap is generally very thin at first, only a sliver of a new moon, but it is a beginning. As time passes, the greater the overlap, the greater and more complete is the healing. The mandorla binds together that which was torn apart…”
The Christmas season, a time in which or culture celebrates the birth of the Peacemaker, is an ideal time to consider how two conflicting worlds might find common ground. The angels are said to have proclaimed, “Peace on earth, good will toward men” at the time of the birth of Jesus.
Symbols indeed have a language of their own, one deeper than our minds can contain, one that has the capacity to take up residence in our hearts. Let it be that as this year closes out and we approach new beginnings that we embrace the hope and healing that are available to us.
What two worlds in your life need to find a meeting place?
Writing Prompt for the Week: Sliver of a Moon: New Beginnings